Giant Petrel Southern from Whale Watching

Southern giant petrels have two distinct colour phases, which are white and dark. Dark phase adults have a grey-brown body with white head, neck and brown speckled breast. Juveniles of dark phase birds have a dark brown body with a dark brown iris, which closely resemble Northern giant petrel juveniles. except for a few scattered dark feathers. White phase birds generally constitute a maximum of 5% of a population. The Southern Giant Petrel, Macronectes giganteus, is a large seabird of the southern oceans.Diet The southern giant petrel feeds mainly on carrion and offal, but it will also feed on smaller birds such as penguins. It also eats fish and squid out at sea.New Zealnd South Island Petrel Giant bird wild life coastline waves nature